Re: Gene Mutations and Beneficial Effects

From: Anders Sandberg (asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Sat May 31 2003 - 03:25:22 MDT

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    On Fri, May 30, 2003 at 09:10:33AM -0700, Party of Citizens wrote:
    > Speaking of genes, let me ask another pesky question. Can anyone tell me
    > why we don't get TV news or Discovery reports on gene mutations with
    > beneficial effects like:

    Usually because it is more "interesting" to phrase it like "researchers
    *create* a new chicken" - even when it was through ordinary breeding.

    However, the Belgian Blue cow is apparently due to a single mutation in
    the Pyreneian mountains in 1924; they get extra beefy due to a mutation
    in their muscle growth regulation. Which is ironic, since they are the
    standard example here in Europe of the evils of genetic engineering. In
    the US, they are sold as organic food instead - no added growth
    hormones, an the mean (in Europe regarded as tasteless) "is lean and
    tastes like chicken" according to a promo site!

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    Anders Sandberg                                      Towards Ascension!
    asa@nada.kth.se                            http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
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